Using a Telephone

Pay phones require either phone cards or tokens. Street kiosks sell phone cards for two competing pay phone companies: Betkom (blue telephones) and Bulfon (orange telephones). Since each type of phone only accepts its designated card, it is a good idea to purchase both kinds of cards. At the central post office, one can make calls on a public phone then pay the cashier. This arrangement is convenient for long distance calls.

Telephones that use tokens are relatively rare and mostly found in the four or five largest cities. Although this kind of phone is the least expensive, it is also the most limited. Token phones are only capable of local and inter-city calls and can not be used for international calls. One purchases tokens through the Central Post Office. As in the rest of Europe, use of cell phones is on the rise.